Otterton
History

The
Saxons first settled in the Otter Valley about
680AD where the various
mini-rivers ran into the wide Otter River Estuary.
Otterton and East
Budleigh had sufficient water in these harbours to
take vessels of some
size,
especially at high tides, and both became mini
ports in due time. 400
years later both places were prosperous trading
ports. William the
Conqueror granted Otterton to the Abbey of Mont
St.Michel in Normandy
for providing ships and men for his invasion of
England.

By 1161 a Priory had been built to the north east
of the Saxon Church
with a Prior and 4 monks. 1415 the monks were
evicted and the priory
granted to the Abbey of Syon, Middlesex by Henry
V, prior to his
invasion of France.
The priory buildings became ruins and the estate
was managed for the
Abbey by Stewards/Bailiffs who probably lived in
the Barton. By the
late 1400's Otterton Harbour was gradually silting
up and only small
fishing boats could dock there.
However harbours lower down the Estuary were still
used by trading
vessels. Merchants mariners and shipowners were
moving into the Lower
Otter Valley building houses and farms in both
East Budleigh and
Otterton manors.
Sheep farming became the most profitable
occupation during the 15th
& 16th. centuries.

At the Reformation 1539 both manors were bought by
Richard Duke. In the
meantime the Otter Estuary had silted up and a
shingle bar was forming
across its mouth. The Rolles took the two manors
over in 1786. The
Clintons in 1907.The centre of Otterton had
developed around its harbor
and Mill, with the Priory, Church and Barton on
the higher ground
above. After its silting up the harbour became the
Village Green.
Development took place along Fore Street and many
farmhouses and barns
were built along it. Each farmer had his fields
scattered throughout
the Parish. Fore Street divided into Bell Street
to Ladram Bay and
Ottery Street
to the north with more farms. By the 18th. &
early 19th. centuries
Otterton had become the principal "town" in the
Lower Otter Valley.
Eventually the village centre moved from the Green
to the Fore Street,
Bell Street road junction. Blacksmiths,
Wheelwrights, a Cooper,
Saddler, Baker and Butchers moved their businesses
there and a Post
Office/Shop was opened.

The
late 20th. century has seen the disappearance of
all these facilities
together with the working farms. (1843 Tithe there
were 11 in the main
street)

Today the centre of the village is now around the
Kings Arms and
Village Hall which have survived. The latter
houses the Village Shop
and a hairdressers shop next door. We still have
the shops in the Mill.